Gorilla trekking en route stops for breakfast, lunches, and site seeing

Along the way to the gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda, you can make stops at different spots to stretch, take breakfast, lunch, and do sightseeing. The route to either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park is long, about 530 kilometers or 540 kilometers from Entebbe Airport. 

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This route is dotted with several interesting stopovers where you can spend at least a day or more before arriving in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park. These breaks also reduce the time you drive from Entebbe airport to Mgahinga National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, about 8 to 9 hours.

Some of the stops you can make before arriving for gorilla trekking in Uganda include

Visit Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary.

Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary is located in Koome Island Mukono District. It would be best if you boarded a boat to sail to this Island. Two daily sessions are conducted when you wish to view the chimpanzees, that is, morning and afternoon, and when you arrive before feeding time, you can stand at the feeding platform and help with feeding.

The purpose of setting up Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary was to provide a home for rescued chimpanzees from snares, orphaned, abandoned, and others that cannot return to their community.

Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary aims at educating visitors and the local people about the chimpanzees and the importance of preserving their natural habitats.

Uganda Wildlife Education Center

Before departing Entebbe, in case you arrive a day before your gorilla trekking safari starts in Uganda, you can take an excursion to Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC), the former Entebbe Zoo.

This center is home to almost all wild animal samples in the Uganda National Parks. Uganda has 10 national Parks, which may have common animals, but there are also wild animals living in particular parks only.

You can take a guided or self-guided tour of the Uganda Wildlife Education Center using the well-demarcated tracks. Some wildlife you may enjoy include lions, cheetahs, elephants, cape buffaloes, elands, zebras, wild cats, hyenas, ostriches, crocodiles, several vipers, giraffes, and others.

Mpambire Drum Village

Mpambire drum village dates back to the early years of the Buganda kingdom, where the royal regalia, especially the drums used in the Buganda kingdom, are crafted. You get to enjoy the sounds from different local drums and other instruments. 

Get to listen to the unbelievable history of this ancient local drum-making factory.

Equator At Kayabwe

During the drive to the gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda, you may stop at the equator with its circular white shape. Perform a water experiment and take photos standing on both sides of the earth, that is northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere, at the same time.

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo national park is like the stop for most safaris heading for the western part of Uganda. This park is 228 kilometers from Entebbe Airport, and the drive to get there lasts about 4 hours. During a game drive in this park, you may see animals like zebras, impalas, elands, waterbucks, bushbucks, herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, giraffes, and others.

 A boat trip from Rwonyo on Lake Mburo is relaxing as you enjoy the various vegetation zones surrounding this lake, spot several birds, and so much beauty in this park. Look out for crocodiles and hippos. You may spot anglers casting nets, but this is upon arrangement from Uganda Wildlife Authority. 

You may excursion through Lake Mburo National Park before proceeding to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park or make a stopover for a day or more.

Kibale National Park

When you take the northern Mubende – Fort portal route to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you can connect for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park. You need at least two days before departing to carry on with your journey to the gorilla trekking destinations.

You need to book a chimpanzee trekking permit from the Uganda wildlife authority. Currently, the Kibale chimpanzee trekking permit costs $300 per person per trek for foreign nonresidents, $ 250 for foreign residents, and 150000shs for East African residents. Kibale National Park currently has about 1500 chimpanzees recorded.

You can take part in chimpanzee habituation too, which is an adventure where you get wild chimpanzees used to the presence of humans without altering their nature. During chimpanzee trekking, only one hour is allowed with the chimpanzees when you locate them, while 4 hours are permitted for habituation. 

Kibale national park is a primate sanctuary and birder haven with over 335 bird species, including Albertine rift endemics.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the richest biosphere reserves in Uganda and an en-route stopover to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park. You need at least two days in this park to enjoy the Queen Elizabeth National Park activities. The route from Queen Elizabeth National Park Ishasha area is about 64 kilometers or 160 kilometers from Mweya to Bwindi impenetrable National Park.

During the game drive, you may spot lions, leopards, topis, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, giant forest hogs, hyenas, cape buffaloes, many birds, and others.

The launch trip on the Kazinga channel is the highlight of activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park. You enjoy incredible rift valley floor features; the shores are a magnet to an array of birds, and thirsty wild animals often come ashore. Watch out for serried crocodiles and schools of hippos and watch the cast its rays over the channel as it sets.

You can do scenic viewing, forest walk, and visit the Katwe salt mining lake, one of the ancient mines in Uganda.

Murchison Falls National Park

Although Murchison Falls National Park is situated in the Northern part of Uganda, you can take some time off to visit the new garden and zoo on an unlimited scale before heading for gorilla trekking.

You may drive, which is a long distance, or book domestic daily flights from either Pakuba Airstrip or Bugungu Airstrip to Entebbe or Kajjansi Airstrip, then Kihihi Airstrip or Kisoro Airstrip.

The game drives in Murchison Falls National Park, especially the Buligi trail, may allow you to spot lions, waterbucks, bushbucks, giraffes, hartebeests, and oribi, to mention but a few.

The launch trip to Murchison Falls National Park is electrifying as River Nile squeezes through a 6 meters wide bend to burst out vigorously and cascade a 43 meters high cliff to catch up with the rest of the course.

Watch out for amazing animals that spend time on the banks showering and quenching their thirst. An array of birds is often seen flocking the marshy shores of the River Nile. Take a hike to the dramatic top of the falls and enjoy the cool breeze from River Nile and its surroundings. You can do chimpanzee trekking in the Kaniyo Pabidi forest within this park.

Visit Mabere Ganyina Mwiru Stalactites and stalagmites

These unique stalagmites and stalagmites are situated in Fort Portal, closer to Kibale National Park. You can hike to the slopes where the mythical stalagmites and stalactites are located. Listen to the incredible story from the local version related to why they were formed.

 You may spot a number of primates that live in the close by forest and shrubs. You may spot black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabey, and others.

Visit Sempaya Hot Springs in Semliki National Park

You may visit the Sempaya hot springs in the swamp near the southeastern corner of the Semuliki forest. The closest geyser spurts water up to 2 meters high. Tourists can do the boiling egg experiment from the pool where it spits water. 

Another geyser lies 30 minutes through the palm forest and can be reached when you walk over a board trail. This broad steaming pool spreads close to 10 meters across. Semuliki is one of the survivors of the ice age era with the Bwindi forest.

Visit Source O River Nile

An excursion to the source of the River Nile gives you a chance to see the exact point where the longest River in the World originates. Watch the drama as River Nile water vigorously parts from calm Lake Victoria water. The shores of the River Nile along this route are amazing and often graced by a variety of birds.

White water rafting on River Nile

The Itanda Falls is an amazing location for white water Rafting on River Nile. You don’t have to have experience when participating because there are instructors to take you through all the necessary training.

 Buckle your safety gears well and participate in the peddling to go through these rough tides. The route has different tide levels; you can stop where you feel the thrill. Other activities you can be part of include kayaking, tubing, and others

Bungee jumping on River Nile

Tease your adrenaline with bungee jumping over River Nile as you hang by the rope from a high cliff to touch River Nile. Both your legs are tied securely by a rope and thrown down the high cliff, and a boat awaits to receive you below.

You can do this as a pre-tour activity or after a gorilla trekking safari.

What Is the Best Time To Book Uganda Safari With Gorilla Trekking?

All year around Uganda is open for safari activities, but tourists prefer the dry season: June, July, August, September, December, and January. Most of the wildlife is in the open, and clearer view of different land features during this season.

The demand for safari service providers is high, and also prices are high too. Gorilla trekking permits during this season are sold fast, yet in low supply, as a maximum of 8 gorilla permits are released daily.

The low season for Uganda Safaris is usually March, April, May, and November, but if you have a limited budget, you can use this window period. Sometimes service providers like lodges and driver guides charge discounted prices. Chances of using a high-end facility with a limited budget are more open in the low season.

Is Uganda Safe For A Safari?

Uganda is safe for African safaris as the Uganda Wildlife Authority regulates the national parks, which are the main tourism destinations for the country. The park rangers are well-trained to protect the parks and their dwellers. They cooperate with other security agencies in the country to maintain law and order at different destinations.

You must pay attention to personal security during the Uganda safari because there are limited public cameras where information can be retrieved. Pay attention to possible pick-pocketers when moving on the streets during the Uganda safari.

Only enter the forest or walk in the national park with an escorting ranger guide. There are wild animals that may rip you apart.

Exposing your precious items to the public is dangerous as you may attract thieves and other bad people.

Do not get out of your safari van during game drives, and do not dangle your limbs outside your vehicle. You may attract carnivores.

What Are The Dos and Don’ts Of Uganda Safari with Gorilla Trekking

• Please do not feed the wild animals and mountain gorillas because they are wild animals that must search for their food.
• Provoking the wild animals may anger them, so try to follow the information given during the briefing, whether going for game drives, gorilla trekking, or chimpanzee trekking.
• Try not to spit on the ground or vegetation during Uganda Safari as this is food for wild animals, especially the vegetarians like mountain gorillas. They are susceptible to human infections.
• Littering the forest or national parks with indecomposable garbage is forbidden because it alters the nature of the environment where wild animals thrive. 
• Only enter the national park or forest with an escorting ranger guide. The wild animals may turn against you without any defense. 
• Do not over speed in the game parks or go off track without permission from Uganda Wildlife Authority, as a penalty is awarded for careless driving, which may lead to the death of the wild animals.

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